CHAPTER V.

FOR some minutes after the cook had left the forecastle, Augustus abandoned himself to
despair, never hoping to leave the berth alive. He now came to the resolution of acquainting the first of the men who should come down
with my situation, thinking it better to let me take my chance with the mutineers than perish of thirst in the hold — for it had
been ten days since I was first imprisoned, and my jug of water was not a plentiful supply even for four. As he was thinking on this
subject, the idea came all at once into his head that it might be possible to communicate with me by the way of the main hold. In any
other circumstances, the difficulty and hazard of the undertaking would have prevented him from attempting it; but now he had, at all
events, little prospect of life, and consequently little to lose — he bent his whole mind, therefore, upon the task.

His handcuffs were the first consideration. At first he saw no method of removing them, and feared that he should thus
be baffled in the very outset; but, upon a closer scrutiny, he discovered [page 52:] that the irons could be slipped off and on at pleasure with very little effort or inconvenience, merely by
squeezing his hands through them — this species of manacle being altogether ineffectual in confining young persons, in whom the
smaller bones readily yield to pressure. He now untied his feet, and, leaving the cord in such a manner that it could easily be
readjusted in the event of any person’s coming down, proceeded to examine the bulkhead where it joined the berth. The partition
here was of soft pine board, an inch thick, and he saw that he should have little trouble in cutting his way through. A voice was now
heard at the forecastle companion-way, and he had just time to put his right hand into its handcuff (the left had not been removed), and
to draw the rope in a slipknot around his ankle, when Dirk Peters came below, followed by Tiger, who immediately leaped into the berth
and lay down. The dog had been brought on board by Augustus, who knew my attachment to the animal, and thought it would give me pleasure
to have him with me during the voyage. He went up to our house for him immediately after first taking me into the hold, but did not
think of mentioning the circumstance upon his bringing the watch. Since the mutiny, Augustus had not seen him before his appearance with
Dirk Peters, and had given him up for lost, supposing him to have been thrown overboard by some of the malignant villains belonging to
the mate’s gang. It appeared afterward that he had crawled into a hole beneath a whale-boat, from which, not having room to turn
round, he could not extricate himself. Peters at last let him out, and, with a species of good feeling which my friend knew well how to
appreciate, had now brought him to him in the forecastle as a companion, leaving at the same time some salt junk and potatoes, with a
can of water: he then went on deck, promising to come down with something more to eat on the next day.

When he had gone, Augustus freed both hands from the manacles and unfastened his feet. He then turned down the head of
the mattress on which he had been lying, and with his penknife (for the ruffians had not thought it worth while to search him) commenced
cutting vigorously across one of the partition planks, as closely as possible to the floor of the berth. He [page 53:] chose to cut here, because, if suddenly interrupted, he would be able to conceal what had
been done by letting the head of the mattress fall into its proper position. For the remainder of the day, however, no disturbance
occurred, and by night he had completely divided the plank. It should here be observed, that none of the crew occupied the forecastle as
a sleeping-place, living altogether in the cabin since the mutiny, drinking the wines, and feasting on the sea-stores of Captain
Barnard, and giving no more heed than was absolutely necessary to the navigation of the brig. These circumstances proved fortunate both
for myself and Augustus; for, had matters been otherwise, he would have found it impossible to reach me. As it was, he proceeded with
confidence in his design. It was near daybreak, however, before he completed the second division of the board (which was about a foot
above the first cut), thus making an aperture quite large enough to admit his passage through with facility to the main orlop deck.
Having got here, he made his way with but little trouble to the lower main hatch, although in so doing he had to scramble over tiers of
oil-casks piled nearly as high as the upper deck, there being barely room enough left for his body. Upon reaching the hatch, he found
that Tiger had followed him below, squeezing between two rows of the casks. It was now too late, however, to attempt getting to me
before dawn, as the chief difficulty lay in passing through the close stowage in the lower hold. He therefore resolved to return, and
wait till the next night. With this design, he proceeded to loosen the hatch, so that he might have as little detention as possible when
he should come again. No sooner had he loosened it than Tiger sprang eagerly to the small opening produced, snuffed for a moment, and
then uttered a long whine, scratching at the same time, as if anxious to remove the covering with his paws. There could be no doubt,
from his behavior, that he was aware of my being in the hold, and Augustus thought it possible that he would be able to get to me if he
put him down. He now hit upon the expedient of sending the note, as it was especially desirable that I should make no attempt at forcing
my way out, at least under existing circumstances, and there could be no certainty of his getting to me himself on the morrow as he
[page 54:] intended. After events proved how fortunate it was that the idea
occurred to him as it did; for, had it not been for the receipt of the note, I should undoubtedly have fallen upon some plan, however
desperate, of alarming the crew, and both our lives would most probably have been sacrificed in consequence.

Having concluded to write, the difficulty was now to procure the materials for so doing. An old toothpick was soon made
into a pen; and this by means of feeling altogether, for the between-decks were as dark as pitch. Paper enough was obtained from the
back of a letter — a duplicate of the forged letter from Mr. Ross. This had been the original draught; but the handwriting not
being sufficiently well imitated, Augustus had written another, thrusting the first, by good fortune, into his coat-pocket, where it was
now most opportunely discovered. Ink alone was thus wanting, and a substitute was immediately found for this by means of a slight
incision with the penknife on the back of a finger just above the nail — a copious flow of blood ensuing, as usual, from wounds in
that vicinity. The note was now written, as well as it could be in the dark, and under the circumstances. It briefly explained that a
mutiny had taken place; that Captain Barnard was set adrift; and that I might expect immediate relief as far as provisions were
concerned, but must not venture upon making any disturbance. It concluded with these words: “I have scrawled this with blood
— your life depends upon lying close.”

This slip of paper being tied upon the dog, he was now put down the hatchway, and Augustus made the best of his way
back to the forecastle, where be found no reason to believe that any of the crew had been in his absence. To conceal the hole in the
partition, he drove his knife in just above it, and hung up a pea-jacket which he found in the berth. His handcuffs were then replaced,
and also the rope around his ankles.

These arrangements were scarcely completed when Dirk Peters came below, very drunk, but in excellent humor, and
bringing with him my friend’s allowance of provision for the day. This consisted of a dozen large Irish potatoes roasted, and a
pitcher of water. He sat for some time on a chest by the berth, and talked freely about the mate, and the general concerns of [page 55:] the brig. His demeanor was exceedingly capricious, and even grotesque. At
one time Augustus was much alarmed by odd conduct. At last, however, he went on deck, muttering a promise to bring his prisoner a good
dinner on the morrow. During the day two of the crew (harpooners) came down, accompanied by the cook, all three in nearly the last stage
of intoxication. Like Peters, they made no scruple of talking unreservedly about their plans. It appeared that they were much divided
among themselves as to their ultimate course, agreeing in no point except the attack on the ship from the Cape Verd Islands, with which
they were in hourly expectation of meeting. As far as could be ascertained, the mutiny had not been brought about altogether for the
sake of booty; a private pique of the chief mate’s against Captain Barnard having been the main instigation. There now seemed to
be two principal factions among the crew — one headed by the mate, the other by the cook. The former party were for seizing the
first suitable vessel which should present itself, and equipping it at some of the West India Islands for a piratical cruise. The latter
division, however, which was the stronger, and included Dirk Peters among its partisans, were bent upon pursuing the course originally
laid out for the brig into the South Pacific; there either to take whale, or act otherwise, as circumstances should suggest. The
representations of Peters, who had frequently visited these regions, had great weight, apparently, with the mutineers, wavering, as they
were, between half-engendered notions of profit and pleasure. He dwelt on the world of novelty and amusement to be found among the
innumerable islands of the Pacific, on the perfect security and freedom from all restraint to be enjoyed, but, more particularly, on the
deliciousness of the climate, on the abundant means of good living, and on the voluptuous beauty of the women. As yet, nothing had been
absolutely determined upon; but the pictures of the hybrid line-manager were taking strong hold upon the ardent imaginations of the
seamen, and there was every possibility that his intentions would be finally carried into effect.

The three men went away in about an hour, and no one else entered the forecastle all day. Augustus lay quiet until
nearly [page 56:] night. He then freed himself from the rope and irons, and
prepared for his attempt. A bottle was found in one of the berths, and this he filled with water from the pitcher left by Peters,
storing his pockets at the same time with cold potatoes. To his great joy he also came across a lantern, with a small piece of tallow
candle in it. This he could light at any moment, as he had in his possession a box of phosphorus matches. When it was quite dark, he got
through the hole in the bulkhead, having taken the precaution to arrange the bedclothes in the berth so as to convey the idea of a
person covered up. When through, he hung up the pea-jacket on his knife, as before, to conceal the aperture — this manœuvre
being easily effected, as he did not readjust the piece of plank taken out until afterward. He was now on the main orlop deck, and
proceeded to make his way, as before, between the upper deck and the oil-casks to the main hatchway. Having reached this, he lit the
piece of candle, and descended, groping with extreme difficulty among the compact stowage of the hold. In a few moments he became
alarmed at the insufferable stench and the closeness of the atmosphere. He could not think it possible that I had survived my
confinement for so long a period breathing so oppressive an air. He called my name repeatedly, but I made him no reply, and his
apprehensions seemed thus to be confirmed. The brig was rolling violently, and there was so much noise in consequence, that it was
useless to listen for any weak sound, such as those of my breathing or snoring. He threw open the lantern, and held it as high as
possible, whenever an opportunity occurred, in order that, by observing the light, I might, if alive, be aware that succour was
approaching. Still nothing was heard from me, and the supposition of my death began to assume the character of certainty. He determined,
nevertheless, to force a passage, if possible, to the box, and at least ascertain beyond a doubt the truth of his surmises. He pushed on
for some time in a most pitiable state of anxiety, until, at length, he found the pathway utterly blocked up, and that there was no
possibility of making any farther way by the course in which he had set out. Overcome now by his feelings, he threw himself among the
lumber in despair, and wept like a child. It was at this period that he [page 57:]
heard the crash occasioned by the bottle which I had thrown down. Fortunate, indeed, was it that the incident occurred — for, upon
this incident, trivial as it appears, the thread of my destiny depended. Many years elapsed, however, before I was aware of this fact. A
natural shame and regret for his weakness and indecision prevented Augustus from confiding to me at once what a more intimate and
unreserved communion afterward induced him to reveal. Upon finding his further progress in the hold impeded by obstacles which he could
not overcome, he had resolved to abandon his attempt at reaching me, and return at once to the forecastle. Before condemning him
entirely on this head, the harassing circumstances which embarrassed him should be taken into consideration. The night was fast wearing
away, and his absence from the forecastle might be discovered; and, indeed, would necessarily be so, if he should fail to get back to
the berth by daybreak. His candle was expiring in the socket, and there would be the greatest difficulty in retracing his way to the
hatchway in the dark. It must be allowed, too, that he had every good reason to believe me dead; in which event no benefit could result
to me from his reaching the box, and a world of danger would be encountered to no purpose by himself. He had repeatedly called, and I
had made him no answer. I had been now eleven days and nights with no more water than that contained in the jug which he had left with
me — a supply which it was not at all probable I had hoarded in the beginning of my confinement, as I had had every cause to
expect a speedy release. The atmosphere of the hold, too, must have appeared to him, coming from the comparatively open air of the
steerage, of a nature absolutely poisonous, and by far more intolerable than it had seemed to me upon my first taking up my quarters in
the box — the hatchways at that time having been constantly open for many months previous. Add to these considerations that of the
scene of bloodshed and terror so lately witnessed by my friend; his confinement, privations, and narrow escapes from death, together
with the frail and equivocal tenure by which he still existed — circumstances all so well calculated to prostrate every energy of
mind — and the reader will be easily brought, as I have been, to regard his apparent falling off in [page 58:] friendship and in faith with sentiments rather of sorrow than of anger.

The crash of the bottle was distinctly heard, yet Augustus was not sure that it proceeded from the hold. The doubt,
however, was sufficient inducement to persevere. He clambered up nearly to the orlop deck by means of the stowage, and then, watching
for a lull in the pitchings of the vessel, he called out to me in as loud a tone as he could command, regardless, for the moment, of the
danger being overheard by the crew. It will be remembered that on this occasion the voice reached me, but I was so entirely overcome by
violent agitation as to be incapable of reply. Confident, now, that his worst apprehensions were well founded, he descended, with a view
of getting back to the forecastle without loss of time. In his haste, some small boxes were thrown down, the noise occasioned by which I
heard, as will be recollected. He had made considerable progress on his return when the fall of the knife again caused him to hesitate.
He retraced his steps immediately, and, clambering up the stowage a second time, called out my name, loudly as before, having watched
for a lull. This time I found voice to answer. Overjoyed at discovering me to be still alive, he now resolved to brave every difficulty
and danger in reaching me. Having extricated himself as quickly as possible from the labyrinth of lumber by which he was hemmed in, he
at length struck into an opening which promised better, and finally, after a series of struggles, arrived at the box in a state of utter
exhaustion.